Notre Dame Cathedrale

Saigon Notre Dame Cathedrale, which was established in the 1880's by the French, is considered as a stronghold of Catholicism in a Buddhist country like Vietnam. The church took the name after the Virgin Mary statue that was built in front of the church. The Virgin Mary statue was told to shed tears in 2005 that created a scandal that hooked the attention of thousands of Catholic worshippers from every corner of the country to come to witness or to pray for the good. However, the Catholic community refuted this incident. 

Saigon Notre Dame Cathedrale was constructed with red bricks that were imported from Marseille. On the top of the church, it exists six bronze bells that still ring to tell the time to people. A small piece of a garden sits in front of the church where the Virgin Mary Statue stands. 

The church serves religious masses not only for locals but also for expats. Now it is under restoration by the Catholic community.    

The photograph courtesy of VN Express Online